How to Let the World Know Artists Are Getting Paid (or Not)

Inspired by the Who Pays Writers? Tumblr, Kyle McDonald of F.A.T. Lab and a team of other developers have launched Who Pays Artists?, an open-submission site to let the world know who pays artists. Just 279 people have contributed thus far—so AFC’s recruiting you to help this site live up to its potential. It’ll take you about a minute to submit.

On the site, you’ll notice that out of the artists who’ve been paid, a sizable chunk of them have been paid by corporations.

For the moment, galleries, museums, and other art institutions are sorely lacking. Is it because most people generally know they don’t pay? Or does this site need more contributors? For the moment, we’re going with the latter. A world of better information is just a click away.

Some artists suck at business, they’ll chase every 50 dollar flyer design or 100 dollar commission on the internet, and they’ll remain bitter about it. The whole time failing to realize they put themselves into that crap deal, you never have to agree to do this stuff. If someone wants an unrealistic amount of work SAY NO. Or clearly have terms written up; if you want to be treated fairly you have to establish boundaries. I’ve said no plenty of times when it seems unreasonable (whether it’s money, or time, or the person I would be working for), until you understand how to say no you’ll keep finding yourself in situations like this.

Complaining doesn’t help, it just makes artists seem entitled. We never get to see the terms, scope of the work, or the finished product so it seems like uh…biased.